CB

Earlier this year Joss Whedon did something that seemed simply impossible--he made an entertaining and thoroughly satisfying superhero epic that was peopled with scene-stealing characters, yet maintained a sharp narrative focus. Critics raved, and fans were utterly awed by the film. Many saw it multiple times, resulting in stupendous grosses for Disney and Paramount that surpassed the $1.5 billion mark. Unquestionably, The Avengers raised the bar on superhero movie expectations, and buzz on the upcoming X-Men movie Days of Future Past suggests Fox is eager to meet it with their Marvel property. (Cinema, X-Men: Days of Future Past)